Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Restaurant Managers and Banquets: Common Success Factors

• They do not forgot what their core business is. • They know when to say, “no.” • They know that every banquet involves numerous details

and that a successful event does not just “happen.”• They understand that communication and teamwork are

critical.• They realize that a significant service or a major

production error can do significant damage to the reputation of the restaurant.

• They understand that a strong banquet business can have a positive impact on the overall restaurant.

OH – 19.1

Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Questions to Be Addressed as Banquet Training and SOPs Are Planned

• How will food items typically prepared in small batches be prepared in larger quantities?

• Where/how will plated food be portioned?• How will hot foods be kept hot from time of plating to

service?• How will food be transported to the dining area?• Where will transport equipment be stored when not in use?• What procedures are needed to stock beverage bars?• How will payment be collected from beverage sales?• How will IDs be checked at beverage bars?• What mise en place is needed to get ready for banquet

service?

OH – 19.2

Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

More Questions to Be Addressed as Banquet Training and SOPs Are Planned• What banquet serving style(s) will be used?• How will foods be picked up from the plating area?• How will foods be transported?• How will soiled tableware be removed? (Where will they

go?)• How will banquets be sold?• What negotiation tactics should be used?• What communication system between management,

food/beverage production and dining service staff will be most beneficial?

• What factors should be considered as specific banquet dates and/or menus are assessed?

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Suggestions to Implement a Banquet Advertising Campaign

• Identify your market. • Create ads that emphasize quality of food,

quality of service and/or unique location or physical setting in ways that will appeal to your target market.

• Make your banquet ads memorable. • Distribute your ads in the media and in

locations most likely seen, heard or visited by your target audience.

• Ask your guests how they heard about the restaurant’s banquet service.

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Sample Banquet Event Order

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Banquet Agreements and Billing PoliciesTopics included typically relate to:• The last date banquet space will be held without a signed

agreement.• The date by which an attendance guarantee must be

received.• The property's cancellation policy.• An explanation of the fees that will be assessed if the

agreement is canceled.• A guarantee reduction policy. • Billing – information about the amount of and schedule

for guest payment. • Information about the service of alcoholic beverages. • Other information applicable to the specific event.

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

OH – 19.7

Diagram of Serving Line for Plating of Banquet Entrée Course (Steak w/ Sauce, Baked Potato, and Vegetable)

Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Basic Banquet Bar Pricing Plans

• Charge by the drink • Charge by the bottle • Charge by the hour

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Collecting Cash at a Cash Bar• Bartenders may use an electronic register in the

same way that it is used in the restaurant's permanent bar: guests pay cash for drinks as they are served.

• Bar cashiers may be used who sell, for example, tickets (different colored tickets represent different drink selling prices) that guests “trade” for a beverage when it is produced by the bartender.

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Basics of Banquet Service• Service should begin with a line-up meeting• Procedures to setup table and serve guests are much

the same as those used for American (plated) service

• Service styles can vary between courses (for example, American service for all courses except dessert; Russian service used for coffee service)

• Ala carte servers can often serve as banquet servers; on-call servers may also be needed

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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Flowchart for Off-Site Catering Event

Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Off-Site Location Review Form

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Off-Site Location Review Form (continued)

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Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Organizational Chart for a Large Off-Site Catered Event

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Restaurant Manager

Chef

Preparation Assistants

UtilityPerson Food

Servers

Buspersons

Catering Site Manager

Cooks Carvers Food Runners

Buffet/Dining Room

Set-Up

Dining Room Supervisor

Bartenders

Beverage Servers

Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Ninemeier/Hayes Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

About Off-Site Catering Locations

• The off-site location can present a significant challenge (Important factors are assessed in the off-site inspection review form)

• It is important to:– Determine responsibility for usage fees, if any– Make arrangements for delivery of equipment, if any, and

for food/beverage products, supplies, smallwares and all other items

– Consider serving and dining spaces and necessary chairs, tables and all serving equipment/utensils

– Make arrangements for and comply with all laws applicable to the serving of alcoholic beverages

• Inspection of restroom and parking facilities and all other space at the site is critical

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